Investments will be injected into projects in a range of sectors, including roads, railways, airports, energy and food security and water, according to a statement released at the forum.

The largest commitment, $16 billion, was made by UAE-based Trojan General Contracting, part of Royal Group owned by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, along with Earth Capital, an environmental investment group.

The sum includes equity in railway and road sector projects across the region.

The UAE subsidiary of Indian industrial group Essar pledged to plough $1.98 billion into road, bridge, airport and thermal power-plant projects in Benin, Guinea Bissau and Niger.